Sounding-board for grand pianofortes, pianofortes, and the like



A. BRANDES.

s'ouunme BOARD FOR GRAND PIANOFORTES; PIANOFORTES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1920.

1,364,541, Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

) I If L L i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR BRANDES, OF BERNE, SWITZERLAND.

SOUNDING-IBOARD FOR GRA1\TD PIANOFORTES, PIANOFORTES, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 1, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR BnANDns, sub- 'ectof German Republic, and residing at erne, Switzerland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Sounding- Boards for GrandPianofortes, Pianofortes, and the like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the soundingboards of pianofortes, and thelike.

It is well known that pianofortes frequently lose their originalbeautiful tone in a relatively short time. This change in the originaltone takes place generally only very gradually, and its cause can lieprincipally onlyina change in the sounding-board which, in turn, is dueto localconditions depending on various causes, such as fluctuations oftemperature, stresses set up in the soundingboard and the like.

This invention has for its main object to obviate this defect. To thisend, the sounding-board is provided between the usual ribs with rib likereinforcements.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of asoundingboard according to the invention removed from the instrument towhich it belongs, and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line IIII in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a sounding-board made as usual ofthin wood, on the back of which known ribs 2 are provided runningtransversely of the lengthwise grain of the sounding board. Variousbuilders of musical instruments place these ribs 2 at various distancesapart in their instru ments, and their ends are gradually slanted ofi'.

According to this invention, rib like reinforcements 3 are providedbetween these ribs, which reinforcements occupy nearly the whole spaceboth in length and breadth, between the ribs. They are somewhat shorterthan the ribs 2 and like these are beveled or slanted off at their ends,so that they are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4:, 1921.

Serial No. 370,413.

higher at the middle, where the bridge is provided at the other side,than at their ends.

The vibration of the sounding-board when the strings are struck is notonly in no way impaired by these reinforcements, but, on the contrary,is increased, which materially aids in increasing the sonorousness orfullness of tone of the instrument. The reinforcements increase the massof the sounding-board without impairing its elasticity, and theyincrease the resistance of the board to stresses due to the strings andto other stresses that are set up in it.

The described sounding-board can of course be built into existing usedinstruments order to permanently impart to them their original tone, ora still better one.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument of the character described, a sounding-boardprovided with the usual ribs extending transversely of the lengthwisegrain of the soundingboard, and provided further with rib-likereinforcements located between said ribs.

2. In a musical instrument of the character described, a sounding-boardprovided with the usual ribs extending transversely of the lengthwisegrain of the soundingboard and provided further with rib-like reinforcements located in the space between said ribs and occupying nearlythe entire length and width of said space.

3. In a musical instrument of the character described, a sounding-boardprovided with the usual ribs extending transversely of the lengthwisegrain of the soundingboard, and provided further with rib-likereinforcements located in the space between said ribs and occupyingnearly the entire length and width of said space and being graduallyreduced in height toward their extremities.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

' ARTHUR BRANDES.

Witnesses:

J. ALLnnsoN, .liis. PUTTING.

